The News
Suicide Found to Be Less Likely in Heavier People
New York Times, The (NY)March 13, 2007Author: Nicholas Bakalar
That fat people are jolly is almost certainly a myth, but a study published yesterday has found a strong association between higher body mass index, or B.M.I., and lower risk of suicide.In a 16-year study that followed more than 45,000 male health professionals, researchers found a steady decrease in suicides as B.M.I. increased, even after controlling for variables including smoking, dietary factors, physical activity, marital status and alcohol use. There were 131 suicides during the time of the study. Compared with those in the lowest 20 percent in B.M.I., men in the highest one-fifth were almost 60 percent less likely to kill themselves.

The Research
Read the research behind this story in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.